Rockland County, NY – New Square Arsonist’s Sentence Reversed, New Verdict To Be Determined By County Court

    38

    Rockland County, NY – The New York State Supreme Court has reversed the sentence of a New Square resident who was convicted on charges of assault after setting fire to the home of a fellow village resident in May 2011 and has ordered the case back into Rockland County court for further proceedings.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    As previously reported on VIN News, Shaul Spitzer accepted a plea bargain that reduced charges against him from attempted murder to assault and was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2012 for firebombing the home of Aron Rottenberg, who refused to daven in the main synagogue in New Square. Spitzer was 18 years old at the time of the attack which left Rottenberg with burns covering more than 50 percent of his body.

    Lawyers for Spitzer argued that he should have been treated as a youthful offender because of his age at the time of the attack. New York State law requires that a youthful offender determination be made in all applicable cases, even if the defendant does not request to be treated as a youthful offender or agrees to forego youthful offender status as part of a plea bargain agreement.

    A ruling issued yesterday by five judges in the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court noted that the Rockland County court that sentenced Spitzer neglected to consider whether the 18 year old should have been treated as a youthful offender and therefore order Spitzer’s sentence reversed. The judges, Randall T. Eng, Peter B. Skelos, Leonard B. Austin, Sheri S. Roman and Colleen D. Duffy offered no opinions as to whether Spitzer should be granted youthful offender status.

    Spitzer’s case will be returned to the Rockland County courthouse in New City, where the court will decide if he should have been treated as a youthful offender by the court.

    “If they give him youthful offender status his sentence might be terminated because of the time he has already served or he might have to serve just a few more weeks,” Spitzer’s lawyer, Kenneth Gribetz told VIN News.

    Spitzer will remain incarcerated at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, a maximum security prison until the outcome of his case is decided.

    Gribetz said he expects Spitzer’s case to be back in the Rockland County courthouse within the next few weeks.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    38 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    8 years ago

    “Youthful Offender”?! Give me a break! There are 14 year olds who are tried as adults. He was 18 years old — an adult and was rightfully tried as such. What is going on here?!

    The_Truth
    Noble Member
    The_Truth
    8 years ago

    Its so sad that yidden can end up doing terrible crimes like this (especially to other yidden) all under the pretenses of being frum. I hope he and the entire community learn from this event and its outcome that no good can come out of shunning people from the community.

    8 years ago

    Thank G-d I’m not a lawyer. Methinks that the legal question to answer is: Does immaturity that results in destructive, criminal behavior qualify for “youthful offender” status?

    Insider
    Insider
    8 years ago

    The kid made a mistake. He pled guilty and accepted responsiblity. He received a strong dose of punishment. It’s time to let him go and to become a productive member of society.

    lavrenty
    Member
    lavrenty
    8 years ago

    I dont get it, he was 18.

    jakyw
    jakyw
    8 years ago

    political payback for delivering big blocs of democratic votes. Subvert the law for a dangerous arsonist.

    ExpatriateOwl
    ExpatriateOwl
    8 years ago

    Remember that he is taking the fall for the Rebbe!

    yellowzebra
    yellowzebra
    8 years ago

    so does this mean that he apologized for what he did and admitted he was wrong, or do we just say he was 18 and didn’t really mean to try and kill another jew (shh lets forget he tried to kill him)

    MAYERFREUND
    MAYERFREUND
    8 years ago

    If you know what square is all about you can understand that he is a victim himself because he was brainwashed from childhood till the day he was arrested.

    8 years ago

    Can anyone here tell us what the halacha is for his crime?

    heyward
    heyward
    8 years ago

    Mr. spitzer was very close to burning Mr. Rottenberg to ashes’s. A husband and a father of children. How are you going to substantiate on such a violent act. Put yourself in a position if this would happen to one of your family members. Never mind the Millions that Mr. Rottenberg received. Lets not forget the agony and the pain this men suffered. He is damaged for life….. The final verdict. “Jail Time”

    8 years ago

    He tried to kill an entire family by burning them to death. Even though the Rabbi ordered it, this 18 year old (at the time) should have known that burning people to death might just be illegal. What if the Rabbi instructs him again to wipe out a Frum family? I would be very concerned if I lived in New Square. Everyone needs to have security cameras and alarms 24/7. If the Ruv is upset, it could mean doomsday for a nice family!!!

    alterknaker
    alterknaker
    8 years ago

    Where are all the so calles KIRUV pteachers? Or only when it comes to these farsholtene tzionim only then kiruv applies?

    8 years ago

    Agreed he should be judged by beis din shel maalah….question is how to get such an adjudication sooner rather than later. Something might c’v happen to him while still in prison awaiting a court decision on his new trial…nebach….

    ConcernedMember
    ConcernedMember
    8 years ago

    This is a fiasco. The arsonist was 18 at the time. That makes him an adult. If someone is trying to argue that he has diminished mental capacity (in other words he doesn’t know right from wrong) then that should have been a part of the original trial, not years later. If he was 14 there could be a debate, but 18? 18 is an adult in our justice system, period. What kind of political jockeying is this?

    firster
    firster
    8 years ago

    I have not an ounce of mercy for this man. He attempted to murder an entire family of Jews. He was a Rodef and should have been killed on the spot. Let him rot in prison. I will let Hashem decide about forgiveness once his time is up.

    yankee96
    yankee96
    8 years ago

    This whole story is a sad indictment on the pressure/ brainwashing done in Sqver as well as other mosdos,Litvishe and Chassidishe to keep their “Chassidim” in line and in check,and not straying from the “fold”,” .etc.

    The fault as always lies at the feet of the leaders/manhigim and extremists in every mosod who dream up new mishigassim every week that everyone has to dance to ,all L’Shem Shamayim
    of course

    Belzer women not allowed to drive in England,,Bobov “48” bochurim MUST go learn in Israel,or everyone MUST travel with Rebbe to support mosdos in Israel,Lubavitcher Mishichisten and pictures at every Simcha in Crown Hts,Tznius police in WillyB with their sneak attacks of Sheitelich in middle of the street,throwing shtenders in middle of davening in Poneveshz urged on by extremists/hot heads.

    In Monsey it led to attempted murder by a Bochur on an entire mishpacha!! Unbelievable

    A new level of meshigah ,all L’ Shem Shamayim!!!

    We always say for good things done Me Keamcha Yisroel and look up to Shamayim,but when Shamayim looks back at us what to WE appear as?

    pinktfarkert
    pinktfarkert
    8 years ago

    In a situation like this, it is best to follow the advice of Chazal, סייג לחכמה שתיקה